Fair sneak peek offers mild to wild

While the 2014 Colorado State Fair officially kicks off today, hundreds of mostly young people took to the midway Thursday evening for the annual 98.9 Magic FM Sneak Peek.

Zeriah Bird, 12, left, and her sister Mia, 9, take a ride on the Scorcher that uses centrifugal force to produce thrills during Sneak Peek at the Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo, Colo. on Aug. 21, 2014. The fair officially opens today and runs through Labor Day. (Chris McLean, The Pueblo Chieftain)

For only $15, attendees had the opportunity to enter the Fairgrounds and ride 50 Crabtree Amusements attractions, ranging from the mild to the wild.

While the smaller children sampled the many “kiddie” rides, teenagers and young adults kept the thrill ride operators busy — with “thrill” being the key word.

From the fear-inducing, towering Power spinning ride to old favorites like Freak Out, Thunder Bolt, Fire Ball and Tornado, the big-kid attractions featured an overload of spinning, turning, high speeds and plenty of hang time.

Kristie Phillips, there with her son, daughter and their friends, said for her family, the sneak preview is an annual event.

“This is when we get our riding in,” she said. “We come to avoid the crowds and lines. This way, the kids get to ride whatever they want.”

And what the young ones wanted were the Surf Shack and Arctic Blast.

Paige Price and Brett Russ, both 19, were looking forward to the rides after viewing art exhibited by Pueblo Community College students.

“I’m definitely not interested in Power,” Russ said. “I’m afraid of heights. But the Sky Dive I’ll get on.”

“Sky Dive is like the baby Power,” jibbed Price, who classified herself as the “daredevil” of the couple. “Don’t worry, I’ll make him go on the scary rides.”

Today, the Fair begins its 11-day run with CSU-Pueblo Back To School Day, a boon to districts 60 and 70 high school students as they receive free gate admission and a $15-discounted carnival ride band.

Tonight’s big-name entertainment lineup features traditional country singer Clay Walker following the PRCA Ram Rodeo at the Budweiser Rodeo Arena and in the Southwest Motors Events Center, Jackson’s MMA Fights Series XIII. Both shows begin at 7 p.m.

As part of a Big R stores promotion, more than 13,000 tickets have been sold for the Walker show. The Jackson’s MMA event has so far attracted 770 ticket buyers.

Young, who performs on Saturday following the rodeo, has sold 6,201 tickets. Close behind are Gilbert with nearly 6,000 tickets sold, Iglesias (5,573) and KORN (4,222).

The Happy Together package show has sold 2,391 tickets, followed by Tony Orlando (1,741).

Two monster truck shows each have sold around 2,000 tickets, with the demolition derby attracting 1,725 ticket buyers. The Fiesta Day Celebracion de Los Charros with band Grupo Control is approaching 1,000 in ticket sales.

The Colorado State Fair Parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Mesa Junction area before progressing through Downtown.